A roadmap to net-zero ready homes in Musqueam First Nation

To combat climate change, Canada and more than 120 countries committed in the Paris Agreement to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Single detached houses make up about 69% of residential energy use in Canada. Improving their energy performance i can play a key role in reducing emissions in the building sector. However, a one-size-fits-all approach may not work for all buildings and reduce the emissions as intended. This research project proposes comprehensive energy retrofit roadmaps to improved energy efficiency for a specific group of houses in Musqueam First Nation.

Project scope and expected outcomes

A plan for energy-efficient homes in Musqueam First Nation

In Canada, an estimated 13% of greenhouse gas emissions comes from the building sector. Direct greenhouse gas emissions from buildings are mainly associated with energy consumption. Therefore, improving building energy performance can help achieve Canada’s energy goals as outlined in the Paris Agreement.

Making an existing building more energy efficient can be challenging. Energy performance can vary between buildings due to many factors. These include:

• geographic location
• mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems
• building energy sources

Energy-saving measures might include:

• improving building envelope thermal properties
• increasing envelope air tightness
• replacing existing systems with more energy-efficient ones

This 2-year research project aims to create effective energy retrofit plans. The goal is net-zero energy and greenhouse gas emissions for 10 houses in the Musqueam First Nation community. The houses represent the community’s diverse designs and ages. The research team will develop roadmaps for buildings with similar designs and energy performance.

During the first year, the research team will set up a data collection system to develop calibrated baseline models of the selected houses. In the second year, they’ll study how energy-saving measures affect these homes’ energy use. They’ll also include an economic feasibility analysis of the most promising energy conservation bundles.

Energy conservation measures can have wider uses

The research will determine the best energy conservation measures for the selected houses. The goal is to have energy retrofits for net-zero energy and emissions by 2050. The findings could support energy-efficient Indigenous homes throughout the West Coast. They could help create future energy guidelines for Musqueam First Nation’s single-detached homes. Housing policymakers and building designers may also gain a better understanding of which designs improve energy performance of existing single-family houses.

See more examples of projects funded through the National Housing Strategy Research and Planning Fund.